A Dunedin cafe owner says the business is \u2018\u2018haemorrhaging money\u2019\u2019 in the tens of thousands just two months after opening because of controversial roadworks.<\/p>\n
Alto Express co-owner Bryony Smith said they had been throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of unused food a day because of the lack of access in Kaikorai Valley Rd.<\/p>\n
The Dunedin City Council said it was doing everything it could to progress the work as quickly as possible, but had encountered \u2018\u2018extremely poor and inconsistent ground conditions\u2019\u2019 it did not expect.<\/p>\n
Mrs Smith estimated the ongoing work had cost them $24,000 in lost sales.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We\u2019re haemorrhaging money at the moment \u2014 it\u2019s costing us to be down there.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018If I\u2019d known that this was going to take this long, then I definitely would have delayed the opening.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The takeaway version of their Mornington cafe opened on April 7.<\/p>\n
They went into it knowing the work was planned and were initially told it would be finished by April 30.<\/p>\n
This was later extended to May 12.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018And then there\u2019s just been nothing since then.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Contractors had estimated another three or four weeks of work, she said.<\/p>\n
They had only budgeted for about a month and a-half of disruption and were at their limit.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I\u2019m nearly 40 and asking my mum for money, which is less than ideal.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
She had asked about compensation but did not think it would happen.<\/p>\n
Her main issue was the lack of communication from the council.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s just frustrating that nobody knows what\u2019s going on because there are no updates.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Otago Pellet Fires co-owner Martin Wilkes said the roadworks had made it more challenging for customers to access the business.<\/p>\n
Sales and turnover were also down, but he was unsure if this could be solely blamed on the work.<\/p>\n
Communication about the work had been \u2018\u2018negligible\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018There has been no meaningful communication.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Lloyd Wilson Motors owner Lloyd Wilson said people were not interested in visiting their premises, nor was it easy to access.<\/p>\n
The roadworks were having a \u2018\u2018significant impact\u2019\u2019 on his business.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s sort of removed everybody from the opportunity of buying a car, really.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Valley Motor Court director Andrew Caithness estimated the roadworks had cost his business at least about $35,000 over the past two months.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We will survive. I will probably get a few more grey hairs.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
A council spokesman said it acknowledged the concerns raised by Alto Express and other businesses in the area.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We are doing everything we can to progress this work as quickly as possible, and to support businesses through the disruption, while delivering a critical piece of infrastructure work.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The challenge is that, since construction began, we have encountered some extremely poor and inconsistent ground conditions which were not expected, and which have required additional work.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018While we don\u2019t offer compensation to businesses affected by infrastructure upgrades, we are working closely with our contractors with a focus on delivery and improvements to public access and signage.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Contractors carried out mail drops to affected areas prior to starting work, and staff and contractors had since met with businesses on site to discuss the project and emerging issues, the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
The council did not say when the work was expected to be completed, but has previously said it was due to be finished next month \u2014 if not sooner.<\/p>\n